Definition: Hemangiolymphangioma is a malformation of both the lymphatic and the blood vessels. Although histologically it is a benign disorder, local invasion into the muscle, bone, and underlying tissue can lead to severe deformity. It has a propensity for rapid growth and invasion into the adjacent tissues, and to recur locally. It can occur in a variety of anatomical locations, such as the axilla, abdominal cavity, extremities and urinary bladder 1-5. Prenatal diagnosis of this condition is rare.

Case report:

A 19-year-old woman with no family history of malformations or genetic disorders attended the ultrasound unit at 30 weeks and had a routine anomaly examination. The following images were obtained during that examination.

This image showed a large heterogeneous mass alongside the fetal head.

This image also show the same mass.

The fetal heart with a normal 4-chamber view.

The fetal abdomen appeared to be normal.

The right shoulder and arm were also normal.

The scan revealed a multilocular heterogeneous mass, mostly cystic, but with a solid component attached to the left axilla, the thorax, the left arm and forearm, keeping the whole limb in sustained abduction throughout all examinations. At this time there was loss of architecture of soft tissues of the left upper limb, but the osseous structure was normal. The color Doppler examination showed moderate blood flow in the solid part of the mass.

At the 37th week she was scanned again and the following images were obtained.

Fetal echocardiography revealed holosystolic AV regurgitation.

The tumor had rapidly increased in size, extended to the left lateral wall of the abdomen. The bones of the left upper extremity were no longer visible. Oligohydramnios could also be seen.

The day after the last examination ultrasound the fetus died. A Cesarean section was performed, and a 6200 grams female was obtained.

In this case, the tumor turned out t to be an axillary hemangiolymphangioma.

History: prenatal recognition of a hemangiolymphangioma is extremely rare. The correct diagnosis is frequently made after birth, although the advent of ultrasound has made possible both the prenatal diagnosis of fetal hemangiolymphangioma and observation of its progression in utero. This represents the fifth reported case of antenatal diagnosis of this malformation.

Etiology: hemangiolymphangiomas are believed to be caused by anomalous embryological development of the lymphatic and vascular system.

Pathogenesis: abnormal development of vascular and lymphatic system leads to a rapid growth tumor. In large tumors with a high proportion of solid tissue, a high percentage of cardiac output is diverted for the perfusion of the hemangiolymphangioma, resulting in high cardiac output failure characterized by cardiomegaly, and AV valve insufficiency.

Sonographic findings: The previous cases of hemangiolymphangioma reported antenatally had a heterogeneous cystic and solid multiloculated mass. In our case we also noted blood flow in the solid part of the mass, bony invasion of the upper extremity, and the eventual progression to high cardiac output failure as the mass increased in size.

Unilocular or multilocular lymphatic hamartomas ranging in size from several millimeters to 80 mm, containing a clear or cloudy fluid like lymph. They are usually located at the nuchal area but they can also be seen in the axilla. They are sometimes associated with polyhydramnios.

Neck teratoma: does not involve the axilla or thoracic wall and is usually associated with polyhydramnios.

Limb-body-wall complex: this anomaly usually involves the fetal thorax and abdomenand it is characterized by a complex, bizarre appearing mass entangled with membranes and containing the eviscerated organs. Limb defects, scoliosis, neural tube and craniofacial defects are usually associated.

Lymphangiomata: abnormalities of the lymphatic vessels characterized by cysts within soft tissues usually in the nuchal region. These tumors are usually thin walled, purely cystic, and not as heterogeneous as this mass appeared to be.

Congenital cavernous hemangioma: hemangioma consists of huge vascular beds, and color Doppler flow imaging could depict marked blood flow in the solid part of the mass.

Proteus syndrome: a disorder which consist of skeletal, hamartomatous and other mesodermal malformations, characterized by asymmetrical focal overgrowth, subcutaneous tumors, hemihypertrophy. The manifestations are highly variable and features may be present at birth but become more apparent with time. This diagnosis was very likely but this fetus did not met the actual diagnostic criteria developed by the participants of a workshop held in March 1998 at the National Institute of Health.

Mafucci syndrome: characterized by multiple enchondromata and venous vascular malformations, which can occur anywhere but most commonly in the hands; long bone involvement is common and leads to progressive skeletal deformity and pathological fractures. This fetus had no osseous tumors. The location of this tumor is not the common location for Mafucci syndrome.Color Doppler examination was not consistent with the diagnosis.

Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome: This is a rare congenital soft-tissue anomaly which is characterized by the presence of multiple hemangiomata, asymmetric limb hypertrophy and arteriovenous fistulas6. This syndrome has a similar ultrasonographic appearance to the vascular lesions with hemangiolymphangioma but the latter is not associated with asymmetric limb hypertrophy or other hemihypertrofic syndromes.

Associated anomalies: there are no reports of associations with other anomalies.

Prognosis: although malignancy is unlikely, the fetus and newborn may develop local invasion into the muscle, bone and underlying tissue, leading to severe deformity.

Management: Extensive excision is the recommended method of management. An effective alternative is the treatment with OK-432 and interferon-alfa-2a.